Soap-holder for washboards.



Patented. January 10, 1905.

ATENT rricn.

LANGELOT L. BARTON, OF STURGIS, MlUlillGAN.

SOAP-HOLDER FOR WASHBOARDB.

SJPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 779,987, dated January 10, 1905.

Application filed October 16, 1903. Serial No. 177,313-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LANGELOT L. BARTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sturgis, in the county of St. Joseph and State of lVIichigan, have invented a new and useful Soap-Holder for VVashboards, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in soapholding apparatus for attachment to Washboards, and has for its object to provide a simply-constructed and easily-applied and efficient means whereby a cake of soap may be supported in convenient position adjacent to the rubbing-surface, whereby the operator may quickly soap the clothes during the process of washing and without loosening the grip of the hands and the soap maintained in position constantly as it is consumed; and the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, as hereinafter shown and described, and specified. in the claim.

1n the drawings illustrative of the invention, in which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters, Figure 1 is a front elevation, and Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional side elevation, of a washboard with the improved holding means applied. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating a modification in the construction. Fig. 4c is an enlarged detail illustrating the operation of the tightening mechanism.

The device may be applied to any of the ordinary makes of washboards or to washboards manufactured especially to receive it and for the purpose of illustration is shown applied to a Washboard of ordinary construction, in

which represents the corrugated metal rubbing-surface, 11 12 the side members, and 13 the soap-board.

Supported for rotation at or near the upper end of the member 13 is a roller 14, having means, such as a ratchet 15 and pawl 16, for preventing the rotation of the roller in one direction.

Formed through the member 13, preferably centrally thereof, are spaced apertures 17 18 19 20, and passingthrough these apertures is a flexible cord 'or strap 21 and attached by its ends at 22 to the roller 14:, as shown. The

ends of the cord are first passed through the apertures 17 and '18 from the rear and thence passed through the apertures 19 to the rear of the member 13 and thence to the roller 14:, to which the ends are attached. By this means spaced loops are formed in the cord between the apertures 1'7 19 and 18 20, and beneath these loops a cake of soap (represented at 23) is supported, as shown. By this simple means it is obvious the rotation of the roller 1 1 in one direction will draw the cord tightly around the soap and hold it in position, the ratchet and pawl members 15 and 16 preventing any loosening of the cord. As the soap wears away the slack of the cord may be taken up and the tension maintained by a few turns of the roller, so that the soap may be constantly maintained in position.

The cord employed may be of any suitable quality, but will preferably be elastic, so that the work required of the roller will be les-.

sened, as an elastic cord will be automatic in its action to a certain extent.

The cord-apertures will preferably be located centrally of the member 13, and when applied to double-sided \vashboards the device may be arranged to operate upon either side of the board by merely reversing the position of the cords.

The roller 1-1 will be arranged for reversal in position, if required, to adapt the holdingcord for use upon either side of the board.

The soap may be supported either above or below the rubbing-surface, and for the purpose of illustration shown in Fig. 3 applied in that position; but this would not bea departure from the principle of the invention, as the operation and results produced would be the same. By this simple arrangement the soap is maintained constantly in position for use, convenient for the operator to soap the clothes as required without releasing the grip upon the clothes or the loss of time required to handle the soap. The soap is also used more economically, as it can be held by the cords until entirely worn away. thus supported and will not drop into the tub or other recep taele, as it frequently does when employed in the ordinary manner.

Any size or form of the soap-cakes may be employed, and when the board is not required The soap is against rotation thus to retain the cords in adjusted position, and to permit the taking up of the slack of the cords, from time to time, 5 as the soap Wears down.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiiXed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

LANCELOT L. BARTON.

I/Vitnesses:

H. W. HAGERMAN, THOMAS (JoLLAR. 

